White Patty You Don't Shine
White Patty You Don't Shine

© Carrie Mae Weems

White Patty You Don't Shine
White Patty You Don't Shine

Currently not on view

White Patty You Don't Shine,

1987–88

Carrie Mae Weems, born 1953, Portland, OR; active New York, NY and San Francisco, CA
2001-146
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More Context

<p>Weems pairs staged photography with language in ways that confront rather than consume stereotypes about black life. "White patty" is an African American slang term to describe a Caucasian girl. In <em>White Patty You Don’t Shine</em>, a young black girl wearing boxing gloves firmly challenges the gaze of the camera. She is armed to resist her societal or personal foe through the powers of poetry and physical might.</p>

Information

Title
White Patty You Don't Shine
Dates

1987–88

Maker
Carrie Mae Weems
Medium
Gelatin silver print
Dimensions
image: 47.6 x 39.4 cm (18 3/4 x 15 1/2 in.) sheet: 63.6 x 53.5 cm (25 1/16 x 21 1/16 in.) frame: 63.7 × 53.5 × 3.8 cm (25 1/16 × 21 1/16 × 1 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, gift of Robert J. Fisher, Class of 1976, and Mrs. Fisher
Object Number
2001-146
Place Made

North America, United States

Inscription
Printed on sheet below image: WHITE PATTY, / WHITE PATTY / YOU DON”T SHINE, / MEET YOU AROUND THE CORNER, / AND BEAT YOUR BEHIND.
Culture
American
Type
black-and-white photographs, photographs, gelatin silver prints
Techniques
gelatin silver process
Subject
figures (representations), sports, girls

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The Museum regularly researches its objects and their collecting histories, updating its records to reflect new information. We also strive to catalogue works of art using language that is consistent with how people, subjects, artists, and cultures describe themselves. As this effort is ongoing, the Museum’s records may be incomplete or contain terms that are no longer acceptable. We welcome your feedback, questions, and additional information that you feel may be useful to us. Email us at collectionsinfo@princeton.edu.

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